SP Days for Vegetarians

With the spinach ready to harvest in our garden and plenty of fresh asparagus in the shops I couldn't resist experimenting with them both - the result is this delicious Asparagus and Ricotta Frittata. Easy to make, full of filling protein and packed with nutrient-rich vegetables this feels like a delicious summer treat and it makes a great addition to lunch boxes and picnic hampers. This is essentially a reworking of the classic crust-less quiche so popular on many healthy eating plans, but I've refined the measurements to my taste and added some different elements that I've found make this a more tempting treat.  You can use any oven-proof dish you wish to make this - I went for a square deep Pyrex glass dish I usually make lasagne in as I find a square or oblong shape portions more useful for lunchboxes. Depending on whether you use ceramic, glass or metal tins and the diameter of your dish, the times may vary slightly on my timings below. However, it really does...

Now the sun has finally arrived, picnics, barbeques and al-fresco eating are all back on the menu and these Oven-Baked Falafel and Halloumi Salad is the perfect healthy option!  Staying on track when tempted by treats at outdoor parties and picnics can be a huge challenge for anyone. However, prepping a tub of these tasty falafel and having them in the fridge during the summer months is a great way to ensure you have a savoury treat on hand whenever the need arises. Gently spiced with Moroccan flavour and packed with protein-rich chick-peas, these are filling and moreish, without being highly calorific.  I've served them here with a roast vegetable and halloumi salad and a creamy mint dressing, but these are equally delicious packed into pitta breads with green leafy salad, on a bed of rice or cous-cous or even served as 'meatballs' on a bed of pasta with a rich tomato sauce.  Make it vegan!  The falafel themselves are already vegan (yay!) You could ...

This weekend, why not enjoy a slice of delicious, nutrient-rich, super-moist Carrot and Oat Loaf Cake? Sometimes, after a hard week, a cake is not an option - it is a necessity! Previously, I've found all previous attempts at healthier option baking somewhat disappointing and recipes are often reliant on lots of chemical sweeteners, which I'd rather avoid. However, I've been tweaking and experimenting and eventually came to this, which produces a really moist, sweet treat that is just 129 calories or 1/2 your HEB and 1 syn per slice. I've used a stevia-based sweetener here, but have ordered some pure stevia powder to experiment further with so will update here when I've explored this. I'd like to eliminate the sweetener altogether in this, ideally, without increasing the calorific load. If you are less bothered about the calories, a couple of tsp of honey in the mix here would definitely replace a proportion of the sweetener being used for a natural sweet...

It would seem that my excitement about Spring having sprung was somewhat premature as we've seen more snow than sunshine this week! However, it makes a great excuse to cook up another comforting stew to warm through chilly fingers and this Lentil, Tomato and Sage Stew with Ricotta is just perfect for a filling lunch.  Full of vitamin-packed vegetables and protein-rich lentils, this hearty dish tastes great on its own and equally delicious as a topping for a baked sweet potato. The creamy ricotta adds a freshness and a savoury richness to the bowl without loading up on calories. The fresh herbs on top add taste and texture to the dish, whilst the earthy sage brings a warm, aromatic edge which makes this a comforting treat.  Make it vegan!  Just leave out the ricotta topping to make this a vegan-friendly dish.  As with all recipes and meal plans on the blog I have highlighted the   protein sources (P foods) in red , the  speed (S) foods in gr...

The snowy view from our village in North Yorkshire this week! When you are looking for a warming, winter treat then this Cauli Cottage Pie, with a savoury cauliflower topping and savoury lentil filling is a total winner! If, like us here in rural North Yorkshire, you've been hit by a cold snap recently you'll know the need for warming comfort food is very real! For some reason my appetite goes through the roof when the snow starts to fall, and it can be all the harder to make healthy choices, when all around you are turning to hot chocolate and cake. This tasty dish will suit all the family and is ideal served with lots of steamed veggies and, if you wish some extra gravy. There is plenty of iron from the lentils, vitamins from the vegetables, protein in the egg topping and even an extra boost of your B-vitamins, thanks to the inclusion of Marmite. I've made a two-portion version here, but you could easily double the quantities here to serve a bigger group....

This warming roast vegetable tagine makes a delicious and filling meal, especially served alongside tasty salsify chips and golden toasted almonds! Finding a way to ensure you get plenty of vegetables into your diet can lead to some repetitive meal choices. I have found myself in danger of sapping the fun out of the rainbow of colourful and tasty options that the vegetable drawer offers by sticking to the same standby options time and again. However, by combining different regular choices with something a bit different I find even my most familiar vegetable friends can get a new lease of life.  I've served the tagine with roasted 'chips' of tasty salsify, but you could replace this with butternut squash or carrot sticks if you can't find it in the shops, as it is often only available in season. The toasted almond flakes add some additional nutrition here, as well as a contrasting texture to the soft tagine. Other steamed veg, such as the julienne veg and br...

At the time of healthy eating resolutions, the move from festive decadence to puritanical fayre can be assisted greatly by this deliciously hearty Roasted Cauliflower and Blue Cheese Soup. It may not look like particularly beautiful, but I'd happily serve this up at any dinner party!  This is easy to make, savoury and filling and it has a wonderfully nutty and rich flavour. I defy anyone to identify this as a 'healthy' dish due to its rich flavours, however it is full of nutrients and remarkably low in calories for its luscious taste and velvety texture. The key to the success of the dish is using a stick blender and blending for about 5 minutes until it has broken down into a really smooth, silky paste, adding the stock during this process slowly to get the consistency you really like.  Don't be tempted to leave out the sesame oil to save on syns here - this is a tiny amount used here, but it really makes the difference. Adding this just before serving mean...